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Military Aircraft in Action

High-resolution images of military planes including F-4 Phantom II and A-6E Intruder, capturing their operational stance and detail in flight.

An F-15 from the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa taxi's to the end of runway to complete its pre-flight checks.

A 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E Phantom II aircraft takes off on a mission. Base: Seymour Johnson Air Force Base State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A right side view of an Attack Squadron 42 (VA-42) A-6E Intruder aircraft parked on the flight line. Base: Naval Air Facility, Andrews Afb State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An air-to-air right side view of an F-5 Tiger II aircraft. The aircraft is armed with an AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile. Country: Unknown

Left side view of an RF-4B Phantom II aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 531 (VMFP-531) taxiing out from the squadron area for a local training mission. Base: Marine Corps Air Station El Toro State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A right side view of a Strike Fighter Squadron 15 (VFA-15) F/A-18A Hornet aircraft parked on the flight line. Base: Naval Air Station, Fallon State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An F-16 Falcon fighter jet taxis toward the runway on Moron Air Base, Spain in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Moron Air Base State: Sevilla Country: Spain (ESP) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

An F-15 Eagle from 49th Tactical Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, New Mexico comes in for a landing. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Country: Unknown

An air-to-air right side view of an A-7 Corsair aircraft assigned to Light Attack Squadron 46 (VA-46) on the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CV 66). Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

An F-15 from the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa taxi's to the end of runway to complete its pre-flight checks.

NASA's Active Aeroelastic Wing F/A-18 rolls into a hard left turn during a research flight in early December 2004 from the Dryden Flight Research Center.

A right side view of an F-4 Phantom II aircraft in flight during Operation Gunsmoke '81. Subject Operation/Series: GUNSMOKE '81 Base: Nellis Air Force Base State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

General Dynamics FB-111A Aardvark. Strategic bomber version of F-111, developed in 1966 as an aircraft for the Strategic Air Command to replace the supersonic Convair B-58 Hustler and early B-52s. It was capable of carrying nuclear weapons at high speed (maximum speed of Mach 2), and with a long-range, increasing its fuel capacity. The F-111 model was developed by the U.S. company General Dynamics in the 1960s, entering service in 1967 in the United States Air Force (USAF). It was officially retired in July 1996. South Dakota Air and Space Museum. Box Elder, South Dakota, United States.

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An air-to-air right side view of an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft over MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Country: Unknown

A left front view of a 509th Bombardment Wing FB-111A aircraft known as "Next Objective". Base: Pease Air Force Base State: New Hampshire (NH) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A left front view of an F-4E Phantom II aircraft with a TISEO mounted on left wing, undergoing general maintenance. The aircraft carriers a SUU dispenser on the right wing, Pave Tack on the fuselage, and three practice bombs on the left wing. Base: Eglin Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

970301-F-4669L-001. Subject Operation/Series: TANDEM THRUST '97 Base: Townsville State: Queensland Country: Australia (AUS)

An F-111 from the 523rd Fighter Squadron, 27th Fighter Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico taxis out to the runway. Subject Operation/Series: Joint Task Force Exercise 95-2 Base: Langley Air Force Base State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-ST-85-07320. Country: Unknown

DN-ST-92-09459. Country: Pacific Ocean(POC)

An air-to-air right side view of a Strike Fighter Squadron 136 (VFA-136) F/A-18C Hornet aircraft near Naval Station, Roosevelt Roads. State: Puerto Rico (PR) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-SC-87-05526. Country: Unknown

An F-22 Raptor from the 411th Flight Test Squadron, 412th Test Wing, flies over Edwards Air Force Base, California, Aug. 23. (Air Force photo by Giancarlo Casem)

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle prepares to taxi the runway Aug. 22, 2022, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The F-15E is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

An air-to-air left side view of a 509th Bombardment Wing FB-111A aircraft armed with Mark 82 high drag practice bombs. Country: Unknown

DN-SC-88-02176. Country: Unknown

An F-16 Fighting Falcon performs at the Titans of Flight Air Expo, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, April 9, 2022. The airshow pays tribute to air power from the earliest U.S. military inventory to modern day aircraft.

970301-F-2352G-005. Subject Operation/Series: TANDEM THRUST '97 Base: Townsville State: Queensland Country: Australia (AUS)

A Royal Saudi Air Force F-15C Eagle taxiing on the runway.

A right side view of an Attack Squadron 145 (VA-145) A-6E Intruder aircraft parked on the flight line. Base: Naval Air Facility, Andrews Afb State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A right side view of an F-15 Eagle aircraft landing with the speed brake up. The Eagle is from the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, involved in exercise Pacific Consort. Subject Operation/Series: PACIFIC CONSORT Base: Raaf Williamstown Country: Australia (AUS)

T-38 Talon Trainer

Aerial view of an F-4 Phantom II in flight

A right front view of an F-4 Phantom II aircraft taking off from Shiraz Air Base during exercise Cento. Subject Operation/Series: CENTO Country: Iran (IRN)

A U.S. Air Force F-16D Fighting Falcon, belonging to the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, stands on display after a flight to the 177th Fighter Wing, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey on Aug. 22, 2022. The Thunderbirds annually demonstrate their rigorous training and precision maneuvers during a routine at the Atlantic City shore.

NASA test pilots Jim Clue” Less and Wayne Ringo” Ringelberg step to the F/A-18 research aircraft at Ellington Field and conduct pre-flight safety checks on the aircraft prior to a supersonic research flight for the QSF18 series.

Peruvian Air Force Mirage 2000P at Natal Air Force Base.

A front view of an OA-37 Dragonfly light strike aircraft in the parking area. Base: Osan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

An F-16XL Fighting Falcon aircraft, armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-7 Sparrow missiles, flies with an F-16B. The F-16XL features a "cranked-arrow" wing for improved subsonic and supersonic flight, semi-conformal weapons carriage for reduced weight and drag, and fly-by-wire complete electronic flight control system. Country: Unknown

Range safety and phased-array range user system antennas validated in the ECANS project can be seen just behind the cockpit on NASA's NF-15B research aircraft.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Another of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds is parked on the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The aerial demonstration squadron is performing for the World Space Expo being held from Nov. 1 to Nov. 4 at the NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Other aircraft participating in the salute include U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornet, U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle, the P-51 Mustang Heritage Flight and the U.S. Air Force 920th Rescue Wing, which was responsible for Mercury and Gemini capsule recovery. The U.S. Army Golden Knights also will demonstrate precision skydiving. The World Space Expo is an event to commemorate humanity's first 50 years in space while looking forward to returning people to the moon and exploring beyond. The expo will showcase various panels, presentations and educational programs. It also is a part of NASA's 50th anniversary celebrations, highlighting the 45th Anniversary of the Mercury Pr

Front view of General Dynamics F-16A.

Lockheed / Canadair CF-104 Starfighter from the Royal Canadian Air Force, possibly on its home base baths Sollingen in (West) Germany. Device is part of the 1st Canadian Air Group (1CAD) and perhaps photographed during the international exercise, the 11th Affent (NATO) Tactical Weapons measures (TWM) at home base. The Rudder has been specially made for the white-red exercise and has 4 red Maple Leafs. The exercise took place between 24 May and 7 June 1974. Under the hull a Suu-21 Bomb dispenser. Recording is scanned in mirror image.

A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet taxis on the flight line during RED FLAG-Alaska 22-3 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, July 29, 2022. The large-force exercise provides unique opportunities to integrate various forces into joint and multilateral training from simulated forward operating bases.

A right front view of an Louisiana Air National Guard F-15 Eagle aircraft displayed on the flight line at a Department of Defense Joint Services Open House. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

NASA 834, an F-14 Navy Tomcat, seen here in flight, was used at Dryden in 1986 and 1987 in a program known as the Variable-Sweep Transition Flight Experiment (VSTFE). This program explored laminar flow on variable sweep aircraft at high subsonic speeds.An F-14 aircraft was chosen as the carrier vehicle for the VSTFE program primarily because of its variable-sweep capability, Mach and Reynolds number capability, availability, and favorable wing pressure distribution.The variable sweep outer-panels of the F-14 aircraft were modified with natural laminar flow gloves to provide not only smooth surfaces but also airfoils that can produce a wide range of pressure distributions for which transition location can be determined at various flight conditions and sweep angles.Glove I, seen here installed on the upper surface of the left wing, was a "cleanup" or smoothing of the basic F-14 wing, while Glove II was designed to provide specific pressure distributions at Mach 0.7.Laminar flow r

Military Lockheed Martin Jets Fixed Wing Aviat Airplanes F-117 Stealth Fighter rear 3/4 runway

An air-to-air left side view of an A-7E Corsair II aircraft from Light Attack Squadron 82 (VA-82). The squadron is assigned to the aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ (CVN 68). Country: Unknown

A Northrop NF-5A of 315 Squadron.

Lockheed RF-104G Starfighter van 306 squadron met Orpheus-pod.

DF-ST-86-11799. Country: West Germany (FRG)

DN-ST-88-02107. Country: Unknown

A silhouetted view of the front section of a B-1 bomber aircraft parked on the runway apron. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

NASA Dryden's highly modified F-15B aircraft, tail number 837, serves as an Intelligent flight Control System (IFCS) research testbed aircraft.

A left front veiw of an OA-37 Dragonfly aircraft parked outside a hangar after being painted in corrosion-resistant gray. Base: Osan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

A front view of a Marine TAV-8A Harrier aircraft sitting on the flight line. The Harrier is from Marine Attack Squadron (Training) 542 (VMAT-542). Base: Mcas, Cherry Point State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-SC-89-09031. Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

ER-2 tail number 709, was one of two Airborne Science ER-2s used as science platforms by Dryden. The aircraft were platforms for a variety of high-altitude science missions flown over various parts of the world. They were also used for earth science and atmospheric sensor research and development, satellite calibration and data validation.

DN-SC-88-00704. Country: Unknown

A Super Etendard aircraft of the Argentine Navy briefly touches down on the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72). The plane is taking part in touch-and-go landings aboard the LINCOLN during the vessel's circumnavigation of South America. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

AN air-to-air left side view of an F-4G Phantom II Advanced Wild Weasel aircraft. Base: Clark Air Base State: Luzon Country: Philippines (PHL)

Two French-built Super Mystere B.2 aircraft of the Honduran air force sit on the flight line with tarpaulins over their nose. Base: La Ceiba Country: Honduras (HND)

A T-38 Talon jet fighter trainer taxis to the runway at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, Aug. 25, 2022. At Whiteman, the T-38s train future B-2 Spirit stealth bomber pilots, ensuring the training for a ready force.

NASA ground and maintenance crews prepare the F/A-18 research aircraft for a supersonic research flight off the coast of Galveston, Texas in support of the QSF18 flight campaign. These crews are vital to making sure the aircraft is ready to operate safely and efficiently for NASAs research.

Military Jets Fixed Wing Aviat Airplanes MiG-15 Russian fighter head on

A Royal Air Force Typhoon pilot taxis his jet to the runway prior to departure.

DF-ST-88-05729. Country: West Germany (FRG)

A front view of an SR-71 Blackbird aircraft being prepared for takeoff. The SR-71 is flown by Det. 4, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 3rd Air Force, RAF Mildenhall. Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

Celebrative Serbian Air Force J-22 Orao at Batajnica Air Base, Serbia.

A Saudi Arabian Tornado aircraft taxis on a runway as it prepares to take off on a mission during Operation DESERT STORM. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Saudi Arabia(SAU)

The X-31 Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability demonstrator aircraft is towed to a hangar for its rollout ceremony. The X-31 is being produced jointly by Rockwell International Corporation of the US and Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm of West Germany. Base: Palmdale State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A Hungarian Air Force JAS-39 Gripen in the hangar.

A Pratt & Whitney J-52-P-8B turbojet engine rest on a engine transportation cart on the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72). The aircraft in the rear of the photo is an A-6E Intruder of Attack Squadron 95 (VA-95). The A-6E is powered by two of these engines. Country: Western Pacific

A right side view of a Training Squadron 7 (VT-7) TA-4J Skyhawk aircraft parked on the flight line. Base: Naval Air Facility, Andrews Afb State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An air-to-air right side view of an F-4 Phantom II (background) and an F-16 fighter aircraft (foreground), over Tampa Bay. Base: Macdill Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A left front view of an Egyptian (Soviet built) MiG-15 aircraft parked on a flight line. Country: Unknown

DF-SC-85-05565. Country: Unknown

Israeli Air Force F-16C Block 30 Barak taking off from Andravida, Greece

A left side view of an F/A-18A Hornet aircraft assigned to the NASA Dryden Research Flight Test Facility. The ex-Navy aircraft is flown by NASA to determine flight characteristics of the aircraft. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A left side view of a Mirage III D (top) and Mirage III E aircraft in flight during a combined U.S.-Australian Air Force exercise, Pacific Consort. Subject Operation/Series: PACIFIC CONSORT Country: Australia (AUS)

A rear view of an F-4G Phantom II aircraft operating its engine while attached to a power cart during Exercise Quick Thrust '83-1. Subject Operation/Series: QUICK THRUST '83 Base: Travis Field, Savannah State: Georgia (GA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A U.S. Air Force U-2S taking off from Beale Air Force Base, California.

A Panavia Tornado F3 of the Royal Air Force, Luqa Airport, Malta.

An S-3 Viking aircraft comes in for a landing on the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65). The carrier is en route to the Sea Fair Festival in Seattle. Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

1960s 1970s US NAVY MCDONNELL DOUGLAS F-4 PHANTOM JET FLYING BY MOUNTAINS

An air-to-air right side view of a restored B-47E Stratojet aircraft. The aircraft is one of the last flyable B-47s in the world and will be flown to Merced, Calif., where it will be displayed with other preserved aircraft in the Castle AFB Museum, China Lake Weapons Center. State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An air-to-air right side view of a T-38 Talon aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with a fuselage-mounted weapons pod. Country: Unknown

Kite in the cockpit of a General Dynamics F-16A.

110505-N-YY999-001PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (May 5, 2011) An F-35C Joint Strike Fighter test aircraft takes off from Naval Air Station Patuxtent River during a test flight. Naval Air Systems Command announced May 17 that the test aircraft for the carrier variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is exceeding test and evaluation program goals so far this year.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. One of the Starfighters F-104 Demo Team pays a visit to NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Starfighters are taking part in an air show in Jacksonville, Fla., and took the time to pay tribute to the World Space Expo at the center. The expo included an aerial salute featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration Squadron, the U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornets, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle, P-51 Mustang Heritage Flight, the U.S. Air Force 920th Rescue Wing, which was responsible for Mercury and Gemini capsule recovery, and the U.S. Army Golden Knights demonstrating precision skydiving. The World Space Expo Nov. 1-4 was an event commemorating humanity's first 50 years in space while looking forward to returning people to the moon and exploring beyond. The expo showcased various panels, presentations and educational programs. It also was a part of NASA's 50th anniversary celebrations, highlighting the 45th Anniversary of the Mercur

USAF Weapons School Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon (Viper) takes off from Nellis AFB runway in full afterburner after sunset.

Nose of F-16 at Sunset

Two fighter planes taking off

T-37 Training Jet

An air-to-air right side view of an F-4 Phantom II aircraft from Pacific Missile Test Center. Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

An air-to-air right underside view of a French Entendard aircraft during exercise French Quarter '88. Subject Operation/Series: FRENCH QUARTER '88 Country: Eastern Mediterranean Sea

A right side view of an Attack Squadron 36 (VA-36) A-6E Intruder aircraft parked on the flight line. Base: Naval Air Station, Fallon State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-SC-87-11328. Country: Unknown

A Yak-152 military training aircraft landing, Zhukovsky, Russia.

Italian Navy F-35B taking off from the ITS Cavour aircraft carrier.

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